Sewing-machine needle.



PATBNTED APR. 14, 1 908.

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J. B. RIDGWAY. SEWING MACHINE NE-EDLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 19

' UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JAMES E. RIDGWAY, 0F ATO HISON, KANSAS.

. SEWING-MACHINE NEEDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented April 14, 19 08.

appiication filed August 1, 1907. Serial No. 386,638.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. RIDGWAY, a citizen of the UnitedStates', residing at Atchison, in the county of Atchison and vState'ot- Kansas, have invented a new and the shank enlargement designed to enter a v.i'rom the" following detailed description,

clamp on the sewin machine arm, at which pointthe slit is e arged and has an angle extension so shaped that the exterior of the needle hasno projecting parts while at the same time that portion of'the needle divided from the main body by the thread-receiving slit is prevented from moving beyond the plane of the surface of the needle. There is also provided in the line of the slit a longitudinal thread-receiving recess extending in the plane of the eye of the needle to a point about concentric with the end of the slit. The eye of the needle is likewise improved by making the samenircula'r in cross section, for certain purposes, with a diamond finish or out on each side of the needle merging into the eye. Likewise, the slit is arranged to divide the needle stemthrough the'greater portion of its length into two equal parts and only when approaching the eye does this slit leave the central plane of the needle, finall entering the eye near the lower side thereo so that the thread, once lodged in the eye,

can not during the act of sewing be acci-i dentally diverted again into the slit.

The invention -will be fully understood taken in connection with the accom anying drawin s formingpart of this speci cation,

in whic 1,-

' Figure 1 is an elevation, with parts in sec-' tion, of a'needle constructed in accordance with the present invention, but with the pro portions of the parts greatly exaggerated ig. 2 is a similar view of the lower or point end of the needle, viewed from the side opposite that. shown in l Fig. 3-is a cross section on the line ww of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is'a crossseetion of the-linea-a; of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line yof Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line z-z of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is'shown a sewing machine needle composed of a body portion or stem 1, a oint 2, and a shank 3, which latter is for t e purpose of securing the needle in the sewing machine arm and Y .may be suitably shaped therefor. The general contour of the needle is that of an ordinary'sewing machine needle but in the drawings the .eyeA of the needle is shown as circular in cross section and on each side there is a dished or recessed ortion 5 of general diamend shape and with all the edges rounded and constituting a diamond finish or cut.

This is the form. to be emplo ed when the needle is used for sewing si k and harsh goods, Whlle an oblong diamond cut eye 1s preferable for leather, heavy drilling goods,

andother heavy work.

Extending centrally along "one side of the needle is a longitudinal groove 6 merging at" the point end of the needle into the correspending diamond cut 5 and extending beyond the other end nearly to the shank 3. Other than this longitudinal groove or depression the stem 1 is cylindrical between the eye and the shank. Extending diametrically through the nee shank 3 and at the other end diverted from the longitudinal diametric plane of the needle toward one side thereof, as indicated at 9, and this slit'ultimately enters the eye 4 near the lower edge thereof. Consequently, there is an overhang or lip 10 on one side of the eye and out of the path of the thread when under the strain of sewing, so that there is no danger of the thread again entering the slit after having beenonce'lodged in the eye. Enter v ingtheenlar ed portion 8 of the slit is another angle sht 11, directed from the exterior of the needle stem diagonally upward until .at a. ,point about coincident wlth the eye.

Opiposite the enlargement 8 the portion 12 is re uced in'diameter, as shown at 13, so as to be elastic, thus permitting this portion of the dle'body from the base of the groove 6 to the other side of the needle is a slit 7 terminating at one end in an enlargement 8 near the section 12 to yield inwardly when the thread end of the needle throu h the slit 7 the portion 12 of the needle will yield to permit the passage of the thread until finally such.

thread finds lodgment in the eye 4;

Now, when the needle 1s in operation that portion of the thread which 1s coming 'trom v the su pl y lies along the recessed or grooved side 0 the needle. Therefore, the thread is housed in this groove out of the path of the cloth strands, and, beingin the central longitudinal plane of the needle stem and in line with the eye, it cannot cause a deflection oi" the needle point from its true path since the upper end oi .the portion 13 oi" the part 12 wil engage the adjacent portion 14. oi" the main partol the needle stem.

l. A sewing machine needle comprising a stem having a longitudinal groove formed in one side and merging into the eye of the neodle, and a slit coincident with the groove to the greater portion of its length and extending diametrically through the needle stem throughout the coincidence of the slit with the groove, said slit diverging from its diametric course near the eye end of the stem and entering the eye below the center of the latter and also'having its upper end formed with an enlargement located at one side only of the diametrie plane of the slit and provided with a diagonal passageway leading to the exterior of the stem on the same side of the slit as is the divergent end entering the eye of the needle.

2. A sewing machine needle comprising a stem having at the point end a circular eye with diamond cuts or recesses on each side, a longitudinal groove formed on one side and merging into the corresponding diamond cut,- and a slit coincident with the groove through the greater portion of its len th and extending diametrically through tie needle stem throughout the coincidence of the slit with the groove, said slit diverging from its diametrie course .near the eye end of the stem and entering the eye below its center, and also having its'upper end formed with an enlargement located at one side of the diametric plane of the slit and provided with a diagonal passageway leading to the exterior of the stem.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I. have hereto affixed my signature in the presei-iw ol" two witnesses.

JAMES E. RUNWAY. Witnesses:

Joim u RYoAAa'n, M. M. ltl'isminn. 

